After the Congo got the independence, Belgians left the DRC ill-equppied to govern itself when they left. After the civil war in the Congo, Belgium sent troops to help bring peace to the split nation. Five days after independence, the army mutinied against the Belgian officers who still controlled it, the mineral-rich province of Katanga announced it was seceding, a move backed by Belgium and the U.S. Belgium was then accused of having part in the assasination of Patrice Lumumba. Also there were accusations of the sabatoge leading to the death of Dag Hammarskjold, a UN secretary-general, who died in a plane crash to a peace meeting with the leader of the Katagan forces, Moise Thsombe.
A picture of the UN secretary-general, Dag Hammarskjold, who was killed trying to bring peace to the DRC.
A picture of Patrice Lumumba, who was killed by the Belgium.
Only a few weeks after gaining independence, the Katanga Province and South Kasai seceded from the new country. Both the Belgian government and the UN sent troops to help bring peace. Both the U.S and Belgium helped the Katagan forces. Joseph-Desire Mobutu took control of the rebellion and rebuilt the structure of the Congolese government. He renamed the new country Zaire, bringing an end to the reconstruction of the government in 1975. In 1977, Angolian rebels invaded Zaire, but were defated with the help of Belgium and France. Mobutu reorganization brought havoc though, and to him the only thing that mattered was the amount of power he had, much like Leopold. There was a little-known leader named Laurent Kabila, who launched a 7-month campaign against Mobutu and eventually overthrew Mobutu.
A picture of Joseph- Desire Mobutu, who took contol of the rellion and rebuilt the structure of the Congolese government
After the end of the Cold War, war and genecide in neighboring Rwanda reached its way to eastern Zaire. Hutu militia refugees used Zaire's camps as bases for advances against Rwanda. The Hutu are responsible for massacres of the Tutsi residents for generations in Zaire as well as Rwanda. Mobutu began his dictatorship in 1966 by claiming himself president. He changed his name to Mobutu Sese Seko Koko.
A picture of the UN secretary-general, Dag Hammarskjold, who was killed trying to bring peace to the DRC.
A picture of Patrice Lumumba, who was killed by the Belgium.
Only a few weeks after gaining independence, the Katanga Province and South Kasai seceded from the new country. Both the Belgian government and the UN sent troops to help bring peace. Both the U.S and Belgium helped the Katagan forces. Joseph-Desire Mobutu took control of the rebellion and rebuilt the structure of the Congolese government. He renamed the new country Zaire, bringing an end to the reconstruction of the government in 1975. In 1977, Angolian rebels invaded Zaire, but were defated with the help of Belgium and France. Mobutu reorganization brought havoc though, and to him the only thing that mattered was the amount of power he had, much like Leopold. There was a little-known leader named Laurent Kabila, who launched a 7-month campaign against Mobutu and eventually overthrew Mobutu.
A picture of Joseph- Desire Mobutu, who took contol of the rellion and rebuilt the structure of the Congolese government
After the end of the Cold War, war and genecide in neighboring Rwanda reached its way to eastern Zaire. Hutu militia refugees used Zaire's camps as bases for advances against Rwanda. The Hutu are responsible for massacres of the Tutsi residents for generations in Zaire as well as Rwanda. Mobutu began his dictatorship in 1966 by claiming himself president. He changed his name to Mobutu Sese Seko Koko.